[Die “Theosophische Gesellschaft” und ihr Zweck]
Translation from the German by Robert Hutwohl[1]
The Theosophical Society is an international association founded on November 17, 1875 in New York. Its basis and purpose is:
- To form a nucleus around which the ideas of general philanthropy and brotherhood without distinction of nationality, faith, sex, social status or skin color could crystallize and the ideals of humanity could be realized.[2]
- To promote the study of Aryan literature and the religions, philosophies and sciences of the East and to make known the importance of such study.[3]
- To investigate the still unknown laws of nature and the secret powers dormant in man.[4]
The motto of the Society is:
There is no religion higher than truth.
(That is, man cannot come nearer to the truth than by coming to the truth himself and by realizing the truth within himself.)
The leaders of the society in external dealings are as follows:
For the Society in general: President Col. H. S. Olcott in Adyar near Madras, India. — Vice President W. Q. Judge, New York, U.S. America. — Secretary H. E. Gopala Charlu in Adyar, Madras.
European section. Board: G.R.S. Mead, B.A. 19 Avenue Road, Regents Park, London NW., England.
American section. Board of Directors: William Q. Judge, 144 Madison Avenue, New York.
Indian section. Board: Bertram Keightley, M.A., Adyar, Madras.
Each of these divisions includes within itself a number of affiliates; in all 266 at present, of which 165 are in India and Ceylon, 63 in America, 25 in Europe, 8 in Australia and 4 in Japan, Burma, China and the West Indies.
The largest number of European affiliates is in England (17), which again have their sub-divisions (43 in all) in various cities.
In Germany there is one in Berlin.[5]
Two in Austria, one in Vienna and one in Prague.[6]
In France two, in Paris with subdivisions, in Havre and Toulon.
One in Greece, in Corfu.
One for Holland and Belgium, in Amsterdam, with three sub-divisions.
One in Italy, in Rome.
In Russia one, in Odessa.[7]
One in Spain, one in Madrid, with three subdivisions.
One in Sweden, one in Stockholm, with three sub-divisions.
One in Switzerland, in Locarno.
Besides a great deal of literature in various languages, the Society has at its disposal a number of journals which, according to the talents of their authors, seek to disseminate theosophical ideas. Of these, 12 appear in English, 2 in French, 2 in German, 1 in Swedish, 1 in Italian, 1 in Dutch, and a number of others in Indian dialects, Sanskrit and Japanese. Worthy of special mention: “The Theosophist,” Adyar, Madras. – “Lucifer,” 7 Duke Street, Adelphi, London, W. C. – “The Path,” 144 Madison Avenue, New-York, U.S.A. – “Le Lotus Bleu,” 14 rue Chaptai, Paris. — “Estudios Teosoficos,” Calle de Maliers, 53, Barcelona. — “Sphinx,” Steglitz near Berlin.
All manner of Theosophical literature can be obtained through The Theosophical Publication Society, 7 Duke Street, Adelphi, London, W. C., and through Wilhelm Friedrich’s bookshop in Leipzig.
Through the activities of the Theosophical Society a number of humanitarian institutions were created, especially in India and England, for example, Indian women were given the opportunity of an education, and widows the legal permission to remarry, Sanskrit and other schools were opened in India and Ceylon, boarding houses and children’s boarding houses, public reading-rooms, etc., were founded in London for the working classes. It is not our intention here to describe the activities of the Theosophical Society, nor do we intend to provide propaganda for anyone.
As Theosophy is the self-knowledge of eternal truth, and as there is no greater obstacle to this knowledge than egoism, it now relates to the personal advantage of the individual, or to the advantage of any church, corporation, or state, so it goes without saying that it cannot be the intention of the members of the Theosophical Society to engage in sectarian squabbling, ecclesiastical affairs, politics, or anything whereby one part seeks to enrich or elevate itself at the expense of the other. Theosophy knows only one humanity, only one God, who is truth and essence, while everything else belongs to the world of appearances, which are transitory. To realize this divine ideal in the human, to establish the conditions under which God can reveal himself in his divinity to all mankind, this is the purpose which those who gave the cause for the founding of the Theosophical Society have in mind, and which is to guard this movement. Their names are known only to the initiated, and they have no desire to appear before the public in person; but they can easily be found by anyone who has first found himself.
Notes
[1] The Theosophical Society and its purpose [Die “Theosophische Gesellschaft” und ihr Zweck. Franz Hartmann, M.D. Lotusblüten 1, no. 4 (January 1893), 60-68] {This article was reformatted from the original, but with the content unchanged other than fixing minor typos. Translation from the German by Robert Hutwohl, ©2025}
[2] The members of the Theosophical Society are under no illusion that they are about to usher in the golden age on earth. But they are attempting to form a circle in which the ideals of mankind will find themselves realized as much as is now possible, and there is no reason why such a circle cannot continue to expand. It’s just a matter of getting started.
[3] The sciences of the East, of which we are speaking here, do not, like the sciences of the West, relate to the knowledge of external processes in nature, but to the inner “spiritual” processes on which all external phenomena are based. In the explanations of external phenomena, Western science surpasses that of the East; on the other hand, there are many more people among the peoples of the East who have reached a higher spiritual level of consciousness through the practice of yoga and, as a result, have a higher “spiritual” ability to perceive. Their science encompasses knowledge gained through their own observation of things which are either not known to European philosophers at all or are only approximately known by way of philosophical speculation. These include e.g., nature of the mental and spiritual constitution of man, the universe, the knowledge of the hidden laws of evolution, the states of the various elements of man after the death of his body, etc. It is also not a matter of believingly accepting and repeating theories, but about pointers for your own research.
[4] The “laws of nature as yet unknown” refer to the workings of the law of spirit in nature, for behind outer nature there is still a deeper, little-known nature hidden. This includes the effects of will and imagination in nature, and in general all the questions that philosophers deal with today. But the secret powers dormant in man are the various levels of consciousness, inner perceptive faculties, the power of self-confident will, faith, hope, love, self-control, patience, etc., all of whose properties can only be explored by examining them in practical life brings life to practice.
[5] The above basis is the only thing of importance to us in judging the sphere of activity of The Theosophical Society, and the more each individual realizes the truth of the ideas contained therein, the more it will benefit him and the whole. The “Theosophical Society” as such has no dogmas whatsoever; it leaves it up to everyone to believe what they want and to come to their own conclusions. Therefore, no member is responsible for what another member may feel called upon to teach or claim. Everyone is free to express an opinion, just as everyone is free to accept or reject it. The only infallible guide is truth itself, and it reveals itself to everyone who recognizes it.
[6] The above basis is the only thing of importance to us in judging the sphere of activity of The Theosophical Society, and the more each individual realizes the truth of the ideas contained therein, the more it will benefit him and the whole. The “Theosophical Society” as such has no dogmas whatsoever; it leaves it up to everyone to believe what they want and to come to their own conclusions. Therefore, no member is responsible for what another member may feel called upon to teach or claim. Everyone is free to express an opinion, just as everyone is free to accept or reject it. The only infallible guide is truth itself, and it reveals itself to everyone who recognizes it.
[7] The above basis is the only thing of importance to us in judging the sphere of activity of The Theosophical Society, and the more each individual realizes the truth of the ideas contained therein, the more it will benefit him and the whole. The “Theosophical Society” as such has no dogmas whatsoever; it leaves it up to everyone to believe what they want and to come to their own conclusions. Therefore, no member is responsible for what another member may feel called upon to teach or claim. Everyone is free to express an opinion, just as everyone is free to accept or reject it. The only infallible guide is truth itself, and it reveals itself to everyone who recognizes it.